4-(4′dime thylaminobenzoyloxy)benzylidene-4″-cyanoanmlines were synthesized. They show broadnematicphases with highnematic isotropic transitions. Lateral Clsubstituents decrease the clearingpoints of these liquid crystals by about 80°. The intermediate 4-(4′-alkylbenzoyloxy)benzaldehydes are monotropic nematic.